The Young Engineers in Nevada eBook

With that promise Harry had to be content, and so
must the reader, for the present.

Hazelton went out to stand first watch with Joe Timmins.
Alf Drew, finding that the Dunlop party had no room
for him under the shelter they had rigged from the
rear of the automobile, curled himself on the ground
under a tree and fitfully wooed sleep. By daylight
the little fellow was fretfully awake, his “nerves”
refusing him further rest until he had rolled and smoked
two cigarettes. By the time the smoke was over
Jim Ferrers called to him to help start the breakfast.

Nothing had been seen of the four intruders through
the night.

“I think we shall try to get safely through
to Dugout City this morning,” suggested Mr.
Dunlop.

“You’ll make it all right, if you have
gasoline enough,” remarked Ferrers, who hovered
close at hand with a frying pan filled with crisp
bacon.

“You don’t believe Gage will try to attack
us on the way?”

“He has no call to,” replied Ferrers.
“You’re obeying him by leaving the claim,
aren’t you?”

“Then probably Gage and his companions will
settle down on the claim after we leave,” suggested
Mr. Dunlop.

“If Gage tries to jump the claim in your absence,”
proposed Ferrers, “your course is easy.
If you have the legal right to the claim you’ll
have to bring back force enough to drive those hyenas
off.”

“Will you people try to keep an eye over the
claim while I’m gone?” asked Mr. Dunlop.

“That would be a little out of our line,”
Tom made reply. “Besides, Mr. Dunlop,
I’m not at all sure that we shall be here until
you return.”

“But we haven’t settled, Reade, whether
you and your partner are to be our engineers at the
Bright Hope Mine.”